Fluid-tight seal



Feb 4, 1930. E L; BARNES 3,746,068

' I IGHT SE I Filed'Nov; 1.5, 1926 WITNES ES INVENTOR: WE) Eugezwllfiarzmg,

' Patented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED ,s TATEs PATENT OFFICE EUGENE L. BARNES, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK, nssreNoa r THE BARBER AsrHAL'r comrANY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or wEsr vm- GINIA.

FLUID-TIGHT SEAL Application filed November 13, 1926. Serial No, 148,200.

- My invention relates to seals useful in pre venting the passage of fluid around shafts for pumps or the like and is of particular utility in connection with compressor pumps of the kind used in refrigerating apparatus. The invention has for its object the provision of a suitable shaft bearing and seal through there can be no escape of high pressure u1 In refrigerating apparatus it is particular ly important that there be no escape of refrigerant gas from the system on account of the necessity of retaining a constant quantity of gas in the system for-proper operation, and

also because of. the deleterious effect of certain gases when inhaled. A common difficulty with seals which are designed to accommodate shafts revolved at relatively high speeds is that lateral vibration dueto centrifugal action and thrust which accompanies 2 sat-in'g for thrust and vibration and formamtaining a fluid-tight seal at all times.

Supplementing the advantages already described, are those derived from combining the parts of a shaft bearing'and seal in a compact assemblage.

While I have illustrated and described my invention as a seal for a pump chamber in a refrigerating system, this being its preferred embodiment, I do not wish it to be understood that its use is in any way limited to such purpose as it is readily apparent that the invention is capable of numerous other adaptations.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a sectional view oft-he complete seal.

Fig. II is a perspective View of the diaphragm, bushing and retaining nut.

Fig. III is a perspective view of an improved form of washer the functions of which will be more fully described.

Referring to Fig. I, I have shown the seal as an integral partof a pump chamber, the

. cup-shaped flange 1 being a fragment of the pump casing. This member 1 is externally threaded to engage the cooperatively threaded cap-piece 2 and forms with it a suitable housing. The bushing 5 is preferably of fiher or other non-frictional material and is threaded to receive a nut 6 which serves to hold it tightly against the diaphragm 3.- g A collar 8 on the drive shaft 4 engages with the bushing 5, forming at this point a pressure seal which prevents the passage of refrigerant or other fluidaround the shaft.

- The shaft 4 is journalled in the ball bearing 9 which is movable in the annular interval between the shaft and its housing and held in place by means of 'a helical spring 10 and washer. 11. The spring 10 further serves to induce axial thrust on the shaft through the ball bearing 9, and together with the diaphragm 3 keeps the shaft collar in pressure engagement with the bushing 5,

thus insuring against any leakage through theseal. As shown at 12 the shaft is 'hollowed to provide a lubricant duct for the troduced to the bearing. Owing to the peculiar design ofthe flanged member 1,- the lubricant is readily retained in and about the ball bearing 9.

Interposed between the bushing 5 and capplece 2 is a washer 13 with offsets projecting angles as best shown in Fig. III. On account of its peculiar construction, the washer is conveniently termed a wabble washer, its

outward from opposite sides, said ofisets being arranged in diametrical pairs at right function being. to adapt itself positionally to any tilt of the'contacting surfaces at the point of seal induced by wabble or fiexure of the right-hand portion of the shaft 4 (Fig. 1) under centrifugal action.

It will be observed that the wabble washer 13, the diaphragm 3 and the helical spring 10 all cooperate to firmly hold the bushing 5 against the shaft collar 8, thus forming a fluid-tight seal at this point, capable of WltlI- standing vibration and wabble attendant uporii rotation of the shaft at a relatively high spec Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a seal for a shaft, the combinationof a housing to accommodate the seal, a dia- 4 ghragm with its circumferential margin xed in said housing, a bushing carried by,

the diaphragm to engage a lateral shoulder on the shaft, a ball bearing movable in the interval between the shaft and its housing, and means for inducing through said ball bearing axial thrust on the shaft to maintain on one side contacting with the bushing and the shoulder in fluid-tight pressure contact with the bushing aforesaid, notwithstanding vibration.

2. In a seal for a shaft, the combination of a housing to accommodate the seal, a diaphragm with its circumferential margm fixed in said housing, a bushing carried by the diaphragm to engage one side of a collar on the shaft, a ball bearing movable in the interval between the shaft and its housing and engaging the other side of said shaft collar, means for inducing through said ball bearing axial thrust on the shaft to maintain the colv-lar' in fluid-tight pressure contact with the bushing aforesaidand means to sustain the bushing against the thrust and permit tilting of the contacting surfaces to 'ether, without loss of contact, owing to wabble or flexure of the shaft.

3. In a sealing means for a shaft, a housing through which the shaft extends, a shoulder carried by the shaft, a bushing around the shaft engaging with said shoulder, a diaphragm around said shaft sealed to said bushmg and marginally secured to the housing, a washer with diametrically opposed offsets diametrically opposed offsets on the other .side contactmg'with a wall of the housing, and means for maintaining pressure contact between the shoulder and bushing.

'In testimony whereof I have hereunto v signedmy name at Buffalo, New York,'this J0 eighth day of November, 1926.

' EUGENE L, BARNES. 

